>Ah politics, politics, politics. It is a sad state of affairs. I honestly think that if more Americans were more knowledgable about the situation with Israel, they would not take the automatic position of Israel being innocent by default and would definitely push for a halt to the massive funding the U.S. provides Israel. It is hard for the people to not support Israel though knowing that a massive group of individuals across many borders pray for their complete annihilation. That doesn't condone Israel's acts but does temper the opinion of them in comparision to those wishing their destruction.

It's amazing how both sides in that conflict help each other keep the fire burning. Any peacemaker politician gets shot sooner or later. Both sides have their share of fanatics/fundamentalists. Both live under more or less theocratic rule, where the theocracy may not influence the state affairs directly, but does affect everyone's life deeply. They even have similar bans on certain kinds of food. And both sides count on funding from their own in other countries.

I don't expect to see real peace there in my lifetime. Though I'd like to.